Stevens Point in Portage County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Veterans World War I Memorial

Honor Roll

— 1917 · 1918 —

Veterans World War I Memorial Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Keith L, October 11, 2010

1. Veterans World War I Memorial Marker

Inscription. In memory of those
from this community who
answered their country's call.
Martin Adam · Frank Adams, Jr. · Romulus Berens · Anastazia Blaskoske · Raymond Borgen · Benjamin Brill · Darrell D. Burtis · Reynold Chapman · George H. Chase · Max Cieminski · Gustave Closuit · Carl A. Erickson · John F. Eskofski · George I. Furo · Edward Glodoski · John E. Gray · William Earl Holt · Edmund Johnson · Joseph Kaczor · Elmer Knutson · Gregor Knutson · Peter Kropidlowski · Charles Kulas · Peter P. Kulas · Stanley F. Kunz · Harry H. Labuy · Lieut. George G. Macnish · Capt. Fenton H. McGlachlin · Joseph Emil Mallum · John Martini, Jr. · Johnnie Olai Melum · William Melum · Frank J. Meyers · Leo Michalski · Obert J. Mjelde · Frank Niemczyk · Anton Nitka · Frank Nowak · Carl E. Oertel · Omey J. Oleson · Joseph Ossowski · Andrew Palash · Byron Philbrich · Thos. E. Pliska · John Polywoda · Frank Printz · John P. Reilly · Albert H. Rozell · Irvine E. Russell · Stephen Sczesny · Emmons C. Sherbert · Martin Shulist · Peter Singer · Alex Skibba · Emil S. Stenson · Ingwald Tallekson · John Van Mead · Selma Voigt, Nurse · Homer R. Whittaker · Walter P. Winiecki · Jacob Witta · John Wyrowinski · Leo L. Yonke · Frank Zylka

"Greater love hath no man than
this,

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that a man lay down
his life for his friends."

Erected by the
Citizens of Portage County
through the efforts of the
Stevens Point Woman's Club.
Dedicated July 6th, 1923.

Erected 1923 by the Citizens of Portage County and the Stevens Point Woman's Club.

Topics. This historical marker and memorial is listed in this topic list: War, World I. A significant historical date for this entry is July 6, 1831.

Location. 44° 30.817′ N, 89° 34.456′ W. Marker is in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, in Portage County. Marker is at the intersection of Division Street and Monroe Street on Division Street. Memorial is in Veterans Memorial Park along U.S. Business 51. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Stevens Point WI 54481, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Stevens Point Women's Club (a few steps from this marker); WWI Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Engine 2713 Controls and Operation (within shouting distance of this marker); The Historic Southside Railroad Complex of Stevens Point (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Portage County Civil War Memorial (approx. 0.6 miles away); First Public Building (approx. 0.8 miles away); Airborne Forces Memorial Bridge

Veterans World War I Memorial image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Keith L, October 11, 2010

2. Veterans World War I Memorial

(approx. 0.9 miles away); Public Square (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Stevens Point.

More about this memorial. The following is an excerpt from the Berens-Scribner American Legion Post 6 January/February 2008 newsletter.
"In 1921 the city of Stevens Point purchased land just north and west of what is now known as the Church Street Underpass with the intention of using the land as a park. Soon after the Stevens Point Woman's Club started a drive to have the City Park Commission change the name to South Side Memorial Park to honor the men of Portage County who defended their nation. A monument was built featuring a bronze plaque bearing the names of the men killed in World War I and a flagpole rising up from its center. Initial plans included a bronze statue of a soldier prepared for battle, but this plan changed when it was decided by some of the members of the Women’s Club that a soldier ready for war was not suitable for a memorial that honored those who died in ‘the war to end all wars’.
The memorial was dedicated in July of 1923 and the only Admiral produced by Stevens Point, Rear Admiral Albert W. Grant, was the main speaker. Born in East Benton, Maine, he moved

Photographed By Keith L, October 11, 2010

3. Veterans World War I Memorial

to Stevens Point with his parents when he was still a child. During WWI he served as Commander of the Atlantic Submarine Force, Commander of Battleship Force No. 1 of the Atlantic Fleet, and he commanded the U.S. fleet in the western Atlantic during the absence of Admiral Mayo. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. In his speech, he praised the Stevens Point Women’s Club for their part in having the monument built. On November 11, 1926, a captured German howitzer was dedicated on the park grounds. During WWII it was donated to a scrap drive and was eventually replaced by a [post] Civil War cannon."

Additional commentary.
1. Artillery Piece
This is a M. 1898 3.2 inch US Field Gun. The gun was originally adopted in 1885 as the first breech loading field piece in the US Army. These guns saw service in Cuba, and the later models had been adapted to the use of smokeless powder. Nevertheless, they were outclassed by the Krupp guns used by the Spanish. This gun indicates how badly the US Ordnance Department lagged in technology in that they were still relying on guns that had no recoil mechanism. None of these guns went to France in the World War.

— Submitted December 8, 2015, by Randal B. Gilbert of Tyler, Texas.

Sign at Memorial image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Keith L, October 11, 2010

4. Sign at Memorial

The Flower Garden was completed May 18, 2010 by Portage County Master Gardener Volunteers: [names]

Nearby Cannon image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Keith L, October 11, 2010

5. Nearby Cannon

Muzzle Markings image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Keith L, October 11, 2010

6. Muzzle Markings

Watervliet Arsenal 1898. 829 lbs. No. 206 J.W.J.
Translated, this indicates the cannon was manufactured in 1898 at the Watervliet Arsenal in Watervliet, New York, the weight was 829 pounds when produced, registry number 206 (the 206th gun in this pattern), inspected by J.W.J.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 22, 2021. It was originally submitted on October 15, 2010, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,930 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on October 15, 2010, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin.